Irene left the hotel, her hands holding the briefcase tightly as she rounded the corner, pulling up at a dingy looking building. She gulped, her grip becoming tighter as she walked through the doors, her eyes meeting those of the owner. She walked up slamming the case atop of the counter, she opened it. "Take the money." She said firmly, the elder woman watching her as Irene looked down. The woman took the briefcase. "Why don't you go see the kids Irene. They miss you." Irene let out a bitter laugh. "You told me I was a bad role model and to not see them." She shook her head, turning around only to slam into somebody. She apologised frantically, her eyes casting up to meet a familiar hazel. She paused momentarily, "I'm sorry." She said offering the man a smile. "It's fine don't worry." He responded, the familiar tone of voice causing her eyes to shoot up. He smiled past her looking at the elderly lady who hugged him tightly. "Your back." She said as he held her tightly, smiling. Irene watched the scene, her heart skipping a beat. The man looked back at her, Irene's eyes faltering as she turned, her feet carrying her out of the door, the old lady not bothering to spare her another glance. Jackson's eyes followed after having caught the conversation, he looked down at the lady. "Do you know her Ajumma?" She looked up at Jackson. "Yes, that's Irene...Irene Bae, stay away from her Jackson she's poison." Jackson nodded looking at the door she had just left, his mind questioning if she really was as bad as she seemed. The money donation she had given to an orphanage an epitome of the pure side to her. His gaze faltered. She wasn't like the usual cases he dealt with, she was different, deadlier but softer. He could see the need for love, for acceptance in her eyes yet he could also predict that she would push that possibility away.

He left the orphanage heading back to base, his feet carrying him straight for the gym. He sighed, his fists connecting with the boxing bag, his punches harder and sharper with every passing moment, his knuckles becoming sore with the continual impact. He rested his head on the bag, his eyes closing. Flashes of her in his mind. He swore loudly sitting on the bench, his hands opening the file he was given by his seniors. His eyes trialing up to her picture. She was beautiful, nobody could deny that, but the innocent look she possessed caused people to doubt her deadly side. He couldn't blame them. When he first saw the picture he couldn't believe that this was the notorious Mafia Queen. This woman alone, had a clean kill record, her businesses thriving in practically every possible industry. He admired her for that. He brought a bottle of water to his lips flicking through the information trying to find the loop holes that she had so boldly addressed. He searched, before slamming the file down besides him shaking his head. Maybe she was trying to get in his head that he had the wrong information, to lead him astray. His fists clenched slightly as he unwrapped the white material from his wrists. She was different, she felt different. Maybe it was because deep down he knew he couldn't have her, she was the enemy yet the way she captivated him, she didn't even have to lift a finger and that intrigued him. She had the world at her feet, them waiting at her beacon and call and what surprised him more was that she didn't rely on anyone but herself to do the work. Her jobs where hers alone, he saw that fire in her eyes, a fire that somewhat seemed to burn her rather than help her. It was a line in her eyes that created a barrier to the rest of the world, the storms around her greater than what he had expected for someone like her. He raked a hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly as his mind wondered back to their night together, the way her body felt, the way she gave into him making him believe he had her where he wanted her, the way she fought for dominance. She was perfect and he knew she had been playing this game far longer than he had. He moved out of the gym his feet carrying him to the showers, his hand resting on the wall, as the warm liquid fell off his ripped body, his eyes cast to the side as he closed his eyes at the sensation, the flashes of her flooding his mind without his permission. He swore loudly; he knew this case wasn't going to be like the others. He knew he was going to be destroyed in the process. And he knew his words wouldn't be enough to save him this time.

An hour passed Jackson smoothing out his suit as he headed for the meeting room, his team already waiting for their leader. He sat in the chair his eyes stern as he waited patiently for his seniors who came in within the next second. "What happened yesterday?" His manager addressed him. As Jackson narrated all that had conspired in the past twenty four hours he watched his boss become more frustrated. "Jackson you are the best here. Your military training, your skills, everything is outstanding and your telling me a useless Mafia Queen managed to outsmart you." He sighed, his hands clenching in fists as his other senior stood up. "Irene Bae is not like any one we have dealt with before. She calculating, she's alway one step ahead of you and the worst thing is that she makes you believe that your succeeding only to rip that to shreds. These agents did what they could Mr Kang, in fact they have been the only ones to be able to get this close to her. And need I remind you that the information that you had collected and handed to the boys was false information because the reality is, is that we have nothing on her." Jackson's eyes shot up widening, she had been right. But how? His mind wandered back to the segment on the news in the morning. Was the government involved somehow? Was the corrupt nature what she was trying to expose? His thoughts spiralled out, conspiracy after conspiracy formulating in his head. This was not adding up. She had a drug business, he had witnessed that himself, yet why did this particular situation hint towards a vigilante life.  He rubbed his temples looking at the file in front of him, a file full of lies. He usually had an upper hand in most of these situations but he had no leverage on her what so ever. He swore under his breath, picking up the file and standing up, everyone's eyes on his. His boss hurling abuse his way. Jackson strolled up to him. "I'll do this my way." He said, the seriousness set in his features as he challenged his boss who shrunk back in his seat in silence. Jackson took a step back, his eyes meeting that of his senior's who smirked, covering it as Jackson looked at him. He bowed slightly heading towards the door, a deep voice calling him out. "Be careful Wang...you might get caught in the crossfire." He turned his eyes meeting that seniors, he offered him a smile, walking out the door before tossing her file straight into the fire, his pace quickening as the file burned cackling in the flames.

TBC

Authors note:
Let's hope we have success with this one. Sorry for those who have been waiting patiently. And I know this one is quite short so to make up for it I'll be offering a choice: I'll update something else today as well either battle scars or a one shot so let me know what you would like to read. Lots of love and best wishes to you all. Stay safexxx